Building Relationships, Not Just Projects: Lessons from My Father and the Early Days of My Career
Rob Indermaur in his home workshop—50 years of tools, stories, and the spirit of hands-on connection.
When I think about what has made Indermaur Media successful over the years, it always comes back to one thing: relationships. Sure, quality photography and video production are vital—but it’s the trust and connection we build with clients that truly sustains long-term partnerships.
That mindset was planted in me early. I still remember the thrill—and the stress—of carrying a pager back in the 1990s so editors from The New York Times and other publications could reach me ASAP. I was based in Kansas at the time, and if a deadline hit in New York, editors might page two or three photographers at once. The first one to call back—from a pay phone—got the assignment. Sometimes it was about speed. Always, it was about trust.
But I learned the deeper meaning of trust and connection not just from those early career experiences, but from watching my father, Robert Indermaur.
My dad was an account manager in Ohio for over 40 years, developing systems for manufacturing companies. He would spend his days visiting facilities—meeting directly with engineers and decision-makers. Sometimes it was scheduled, often it wasn’t. When I was a child, he’d call me from the road, from a pay phone, checking in while en route to a lunch meeting or a drop-by client visit.
What stuck with me was how much he cared about the people he worked with. He built genuine relationships, often lasting 20–30 years. It wasn’t just business—it was about being helpful, staying connected, and making clients feel comfortable. He used to say that building trust wasn’t something you forced—it came from within. It came from being human, approachable, and present.
“People need to feel comfortable with you,” he’d tell me. “That’s when they give you their trust—and sometimes, their business for life.”
He believed that good communication radiates something beyond words. That ability to listen, read the room, and connect is what made him so effective—and I see that same instinct in myself. Clients have told me over the years that working with me feels easy, flexible, and fun—but also dependable. That’s exactly the kind of relationship I aim to build.
Whether I’m filming in a biotech cleanroom, capturing headshots for a financial institution, or building a website for a small business, I carry these values with me. I believe in being flexible when schedules shift, in adapting gracefully when a photography and video project changes direction, and in being the kind of person clients want to work with again and again.
These are the values that guide Indermaur Media. And they’re the reason some of my clients have worked with me for over 25 years.
To anyone starting out in this industry—or looking to strengthen their own client relationships—my dad offers one final piece of advice:
“Know your product. And listen to the people you’re working with.”
I’m grateful for the habits he instilled in me—whether they were passed down through example or DNA—and for the clients who have trusted me to tell their stories with care.
Interested in building a long-term creative partnership?
At Indermaur Media, we’re here to help you tell your story through photography, video, and web. Whether you’re a startup or a Fortune 500 company, let’s build something meaningful together. Contact me today.
